10/06/25 (9:30pm)
Same spot as #60, turned 180 degrees. This one was fast and furious, trying to get the sky down before the light was gone.

Here are some primary questions I have learned to ask myself before I start that seem to lead to things going well:

When I squint can I reduce the subject to large, abstract shapes? (meaning things I can block in on a 6x8" panel with a 1 inch flat).

If I can, is the design still interesting now that I have eliminated the detail?

What are my chances of success with this subject? (Good design, interesting light, relatively easy to simplify, is there a center of interest I am excited about?)

What is the light doing (late morning moving in to mid-day flat? mid day subject-lots of time? about to cloud over? stormy with all kinds of changing, interesting things to choose from? late afternoon moving into gorgeous evening light?) Primarily: What needs to be addressed immediately and where do I have a little more time? Or am I setting the stage and waiting for the light? (this works in a place you know well with steady weather).

When first starting to paint plein air, there is a tendency to be excited by a subject and jump in with no conscious plan, or even a clear consideration about what the primary focus will be. Next thing you know you're out there mid-painting doing the dog-paddle for life and wondering how the water got so deep.

John Carlson puts it beautifully: "Art is the transmittable, personal impression of one quality in the quantity before us. It is the ability to determine consciously what it is that interests him, and why, that differentiates the artist from the art student."

9 comments:

Wonderful clouds again, and I love the telephone lines! Thank you for sharing your checklist, it is so easy to let enthusiasm for the subject send you off on something you would re-orchestrate if it was a still life. I used to always do a value sketch, but when you are outside, and things are changing fast, that discipline is easy to forget.

Hi Liz,Thanks so much for visiting my blog and introducing me to your work. I love this project you are working on right now. Your checklist sounds invaluable - I am going to try it out.Happy painting,Tammy

Okay, confession...I didn't put the wires in at first because stuff like that scares me, I'm always afraid it's going to look stiff and out of place. But I watched a video by Herman Pekel (will talk about this in a future post), and after watching him paint an industrial scene, I was inspired to be fearless and just put it in! This painting was definitely a little flat and lacking sparkle, and I think the addition of the wires really helped it, so thanks you guys for the positive feedback!

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Welcome!

Throughout my career, I have discovered what invigorates, captivates and entertains me is challenge. My first love is landscape, but in the past few years I have added still life and figurative work to my subject matter, and painting directly from life has become my predominate approach of choice.
The intention of this blog is to share insights into one artist's journey. I hope you will find it both intriguing and inspiring.